The Dirt Road Band at the Tuesday Night Music club Coulsdon

Review and Images By KenJackson

The Dirt Road Band delivered a powerhouse performance to an enthusiastic audience at the Tuesday Night Music Club this week , treating them all to an electrifying night of rhythm, blues, and raw talent. This seasoned trio—featuring legendary musicians Steve Walwyn (Guitar), Horace Panter (Bass), and Ted Duggan (Drums) and proved that experience and chemistry are a recipe for musical magic. From the opening chord, Walwyn’s guitar work took centre stage. Steve is best known for his long tenure with Dr. Feelgood, he brought fire and finesse to every solo, his tone sharp yet soulful.

He led the band with charisma and a tight grip on the blues-rock dynamics, weaving slide licks and melodic runs that had the crowd egging him on and encouraging him throughout his performance . Horace Panter, famously of The Specials, anchored the set with his confident groove-laden bass lines that were both understated and essential, he interacted throughout with Steve to provide the stage theatricals which were both a joy to watch and to photograph. His playing provided a deep, steady pulse that allowed the band to move fluidly between gritty blues, boogie, and rock ‘n’ roll and it was a joy to watch him adapt his ska-rooted sensibility to the band’s rootsy sound.

Meanwhile, Ted Duggan brought the heartbeat. With a career spanning prog rock and electronic music, his drumming was precise, powerful and nuanced—always driving the band forward but never ever overpowering . His interplay with Horace formed a rhythm section as tight as any you’ll hear on the circuit. The setlist mixed originals and blues standards, delivered with swagger and sincerity.

Each song built on the last, culminating in a rousing finale that brought the crowd to its feet three times in total and generated a two song encore. In short, The Dirt Road Band’s performance was a masterclass in live musicianship. These are three players who clearly love what they do—and when they do it together, it’s something special. Many thanks to Ross and Martin on the sound desk ensuring that what we heard was a good as it was meant to be ,the fabulous bar staff and Richard Dunning for once again ensuring a superb band was available to entertain us .